Bather&#39;s air float



Sept. 26, 1939. J. c. 'EUBANK BATHER'S AIR FLOAT Filed April 14. 1938 Aitomeys Patented Sept. 26, 1939 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates generally to a device for assisting bathers inremaining afloat on and moving about in the water, and particularly toan inflatable device of this character which is safe and convenient foruse by grown ups and children alike, and an important object of myinvention is to provide a simple and inexpensive arrangement of thecharacter indicated which is susceptible of quantity production andbroad marlgeting at a relatively low price.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a readingof the following description taken in connection with the drawing,

wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown preferred embodimentsof my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device in accordance with the inventionhaving dual inflatable chambers.

20 Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takenthrough Figure 1 approximately centrally.

Figure 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the inventioncontaining a single inflatable 25 chamber.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical sectional viewtaken through Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, and first to the embodiment shown inFigures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the numeral 5 generally designates aclosed inflatable tube constituting the main buoyant element of thedevice, capable of being molded in a perfectly circular form and eithermaintained in that shape in the final product,

35 or caused to assume an oval or elliptical form in the final productby reason of the manner of attachment of the support web. This closedtube may be made of rubber like the inner tube of an automobile tire, orbe made of a combination of 40 rubber and fabric, or entirely of somesuitable fabric, depending on the desires of the manufacturer.

Strung across the main float element 5 is the support web which isgenerally designated 6 and 45 which comprises an hour glass shaped sheetI having disposed at similarly spaced distances from the edges of thesheet an hour glass shaped axillary buoyant element 8, and loops 9fastened to the projecting corners of sheet I and encircling 50 thecircular tube 5, or said circular loops may be attached to and a part ofthe circular tube 5 and attached to the corners of sheet 1, whereby thesupport 6 is strung across the tube 5. Openings are left at 10 and IIand also at right angles to ill and II for the purpose of allowing thefree access of Water as the inflated tube is submerged, to pass betweenthe tube and the sides of sheet I which insures the stability of thefloat and furnishes the support of the bather when using the float forsupport.

The sheet I may be made sufficiently rigid in character to obviate thenecessity for securing the loops 9 to the tube 5 to keep the loopsproperly positioned on the tube 5; or the sheet I may be as flexible asdesired, and the straps 9 as flexible 10 as desired, but the straps 9attached securely in place in the selected positions on the tube 5.

It will be obvious that the hour glass shaped auxiliary buoyant elementor chamber 8 when inflated acts as a cushion and also as an additionalagency besides the tube 5 to maintain the bather afloat in the water.While the tube 5 is furnished with an inflating valve l2, the hour glassshaped auxiliary float chamber 8 may be either of the permanentlyinflated type or be provided like the tube 5 with an inflating valvesuitably positioned thereon.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawingis the same in all particulars as the embodiment described above, butthe sheet la. is devoid of the auxiliary float chamber 8.

As to structural details employed in the formation of the support 6 andthe support 6a, it is pointed out that the loops 9 and 9a may be fabricI or rubber pieces brought around the tube 5, 5a and their ends securedto opposite sides of the marginal portions of the sheet la as indicatedin Figures 2 and 4, and fastened in place by sewing, fasteners ofmetallic character, or by cementing or vulcanizing, according to thechoice of the manufacturer and the type and finish of final productdesired.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire tolimit the application of the invention thereto, and any change orchanges may be made in the materials and in the structure andarrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A bathers float comprising an outer inflatable ring, an hour-glassshaped sheet disposed 5 within the ring, relatively wide strips loopedaround the ring at substantially equally circumferentially spacedpoints, said strips having inwardly directed portions extending radiallyinwardly beyond the inner periphery of said ring generally rectangularin top plan view, loops embracing said ring float at circumferentiallyspaced equidistant points, said loops having their inner ends projectingradially toward and connected with adjacent corner portions of saidsheet, the marginal edges of said sheet being all spaced from the innerperipheral edge of said ring, said sheet being in a plane with the ringand having a buoyant central portion functioning as a cushion as well asan auxiliary float, coacting with said 11 ring.

JOHN CECIL EUBANK.

